Only six years ago, the horizon looked bleak for coffee bean farmers in Kona, Hawaii. The dreaded coffee berry borers (Hypothenemus hampei) had infested up to 44 percent of Kona’s coffee crop and began threatening the livelihoods of Kona’s farmers!
In a market where quality is king, these coffee farmers could hardly compete with the minimal yields they were working with. Fortunately, the farmers found a surprising solution: the beneficial fungus, Beauveria bassiana.
Commonly used by organic growers as a broad spectrum pest control spray, B. bassiana is gaining ground in agricultural use as
a soil drench as well.
a soil drench as well.
Its popularity can be chalked up to three things:1. It is an economically suitable option for most farmers.
2. It works on nearly every pest insect
3. It is safe to use around other “good bugs”, including the bees we all love.
